On the India that cannot say “yes”

States will wonder whether the millstone of domestic politics will ever allow India to sign-off on deals that involve meaningful quid pro quo. And, as Arundhati Ghose writes, “the time frame within which China will have to start worrying about India’s role as a rival will have receded”.

What will the world think?

Arundhati Ghose’s op-ed in DNA points out the repercussions of the UPA allowing the Left to hijack India’s foreign policy.

The impact of this episode, whichever way it finally unravels, is bound to be felt in India’s international relations. India’s credibility as a negotiator and ability to take a domestically tough decision will necessarily be reflected on the way in which other countries will assess this country’s international commitments.

There will certainly be life after the agreement should it fail, but India will have lost her voice. It will be perceived that while India may have the ambition, she does not have the will or capability to implement her agreements, given her fractured polity.

Her determination to deliver on her commitments will be in doubt as will her seriousness as a negotiating partner.

The consequences on bilateral relations are difficult to predict: there is bound to be a negative reaction in the US: if, as is being projected, the next US President is a Democrat with a Democratic Congress, India can expect the lecturing and hectoring to begin again — pressures to sign the CTBT, the FMCT, the NPT and so on. We will be back to Square One with a vengeance. [DNA]

And she also offers perhaps the most succinct bottomline:

The time frame within which China will have to start worrying about India’s role as a rival will have receded.

As P S Suryanarayana writes, India’s profile has already begun to recede in East Asia, as states wonder whether the millstone of domestic politics will ever allow India to sign-off on deals that involve meaningful quid pro quo. Add that to India’s craven position on Burma, and you know Arundhati Ghose’s summary is right on the ball. Meanwhile, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) has begun to shut down reactors for the want of fuel.

5 thoughts on “On the India that cannot say “yes””

I will say upfront that I am a supporter of the deal, but I have to ask – is the timing of that report, where a nuclear plant has to shut down due to lack of fuel, pure coincidence? It would seem to put some pressure on the Communists to try to answer the question, “You say you are preserving Indian energy independence, yet we cannot run the plants that we have due to lack of fuel. You scuttled one possible option. Do you propose another?”

The Leftist Desh Drohis have won bcause they have to appease their paymasters in Bejing!The point is not he deal thepoint is INDIA’s Credibility, in dealng with International obligations! If they( congress hd sch feet of clay should they even have stated negotiating? the Left are only spiteful and have enjoyed Veto power wihout an iota of responsibility and literally blackmail the coalition partners! They will evnually NOT bite the bullet but the rest of the Coalition charlatans havent got the stomach to face an election! Thne lipservice they paid for the ‘POOR’ India and their Devide and Rule card might not work this time but it will ALWAYS work with Gulliable poor uneducated masses specially with Muslims! Ofcouse they will always play the caste, resrvation and haj Handout, cards!

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I will say upfront that I am a supporter of the deal, but I have to ask – is the timing of that report, where a nuclear plant has to shut down due to lack of fuel, pure coincidence? It would seem to put some pressure on the Communists to try to answer the question, “You say you are preserving Indian energy independence, yet we cannot run the plants that we have due to lack of fuel. You scuttled one possible option. Do you propose another?”

Nitin

KXB,

We should not deny those favour of the deal the right to apply pressure.

Sriram

The new blurb like part in this template is confusing. Google reader does not recognize it.

RM

The Leftist Desh Drohis have won bcause they have to appease their paymasters in Bejing!The point is not he deal thepoint is INDIA’s Credibility, in dealng with International obligations! If they( congress hd sch feet of clay should they even have stated negotiating? the Left are only spiteful and have enjoyed Veto power wihout an iota of responsibility and literally blackmail the coalition partners! They will evnually NOT bite the bullet but the rest of the Coalition charlatans havent got the stomach to face an election! Thne lipservice they paid for the ‘POOR’ India and their Devide and Rule card might not work this time but it will ALWAYS work with Gulliable poor uneducated masses specially with Muslims! Ofcouse they will always play the caste, resrvation and haj Handout, cards!